Bomb releasing shackle



Feb. 8, 1944. R. l. MARKEY ETAL BOMB RELEASING SHACKLE Filed Jan. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT ORS ROSCOE MARKE Y DAV/D HERMAN ROBERT CHAEFER A TTORNE Y Feb. l8, 1944. R MARKEY ETAL 2,341,457

- BOMB RELEASING sHAcKLE Filed Jan. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG B. INVENTORS frascos MARKEY -BY l DA v/D HERMA/v ROBERT 5CH EFE/2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNTTED STATES PATENT oFfFIclezf-vjv Boivin RELEASING snAoKLE Roscoe I. Markey Yand David Herman, East Orange, and Robert Schaefer, Irvington, N.J., s v y assignors to Pollak Manufacturing Company, Arlington, N. J.. a corporation of New Jersey c f Application January 20, 1942,*Serial No. 427,432

s claims. (C1: ssa-.1.5) Y

The invention relates to bomb releasing shackles, particularly adapted for use with aerial bombs.

The present invention has to do with the arming of the bomb. kIn dropping aerial bombs it ofttimes happens the bombs must be dropped uns armed. `This would ber the case where 4due to some injury to the'plane and it becomes necesf sary to lighten the load either to travel a greater distance or prior to making an emergency landing. Should this occur over friendly Aterritory the bombs must be dropped so they will not explode. At other times it is desired to` -dropfthe bombssothey will explode on impact. At such atime the fuse in the head `of the bomb is armed. At other times it is desired to drop-the bombs so they will not explode on impact but will penetrate before exploding. Under these conditions the bombs would be dropped with their head fuses unarmed and the tail fuses armed. The tail fuses being time fuses the bombs will therefore penetrate before exploding.

The principal object of the present invention is lto vprovide a device of extreme simplicity for accomplishing the foregoing. Y

vIn accordance with the present invention it is preferred to use electrical means for operation. However anotherobject and advantage is to providea manually operated means of operation in case anything went wrong with the electrically operated means.v Y

A further object is to arrange the parts as a single unit so that if any of the individual parts were injured the entire unit could be easily and quickly removed from the shackle and a new one substituted.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specication proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part thereof and in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the bomb releasing shackle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the arming unit removed from the shackle;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View partly in section showing the position of the parts when electrically operated to drop the bomb with the tail fuse armed and the head fuse safe or unarmed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in'section showing the position of the parts when electrically operated to drop the bomb with the head fuse armed and the tail fuse `safe o r unarmed;

- Fig. 5 is an elevational view partly in section showing the position of the parts v.Whenthc bom has been dropped safe or unarmed; y

Fig. 6 is an elevational View lpartly in section showing the position of thepartswhen the arming unit has been manually operated to drop the bomb with the tail fuse armed and the headfuse safe or unarmed; y y

Figi? is an elevational view partly in section showingthe position of, the parts. when the arming unit. has been manually operated to drop the bomb with both the tail fuse and head fuse armed; v, i Fig.:8 is a longitudinal-section through one of thesolenoids; and Y Y Fig. 9 is a cross, sectional- View taken online Q-Bof Fig. 8. Y .Referring again tosaid drawings the framef work or supporting structure ofthe shackle coniprises a pair of spaced plates Iv--lll resistance welded or otherwise secured to a.l channel memberll. Hooks l2 and ISarepivoted at I4 and l5 in the plates l0. In the closed vor lockedpo'siti'o of the hooks their open ends abut studs I6 car-` ried by the plates ,Ill and conne the rings or other suitable membersnl'l which carry the bomb` (not shown), thus providing a two'point support Yforthe bomb. A v y The upper portions of the hooks l2 and I3'are pivoted at I8 to a longitudinally extending tie member l9 It will be'apparentV the hookslZ and I3 and the tie member I9 are movable simul taneously, and `furthermore the weight'. offthe bomb as it hangs on the hooks tends tomove the tie member toward the left and cause the hook's' to vmove away from the studs I6 toV release `the bomb. 'l Tf Releasable locking means for the' tie lmember and its hooks are provided and fragmentary parts ofthis mechanism are'indicat'ed bythe reference numeral 20. However this releasable locking means is subject matter of a cope'nding' application and further illustration ordescri'p' tion thereof is not necessary in this application. Means indicated generally by the referencienu meral 2l are provided for droppingv thev bomb armed or safe and this means will now bede-1 scribed. Y S

As heretofore stated the means 'fondrolpng the bomb armedor safe is built intoaisingle 'removableunit .andl this unit, removed from" the shackle, is illustratedlin lig.` 2.5 lIt Lis generally U fshape'd- 'm'.crossl' sc'ti'on and is; provided with openings. 22 through which bolts or -pins 2 3,! pass to hold the unit between the side plates I of the shackle. The pins 23 are preferably made with a push nt to expedite their removal.

A pair of solenoids 24 and 25 are mounted between the sides 26 of thesupporting member and are held in place by rivets 21. One of the solenoids is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. It comprises the winding 28,l c ore 29 and pin 30. A spring 3| urges the pin 30 against the core'29 and when the solenoid is not energized the pin is in its retracted position as shown in Fig. 8. It

It will be noted the slot is shorter than the Will be apparent that immediately upon the so1ee noid being energized the core 29 will be pulled and 33 are Amounted on pins 34.` Each ofthe retainers has a flattened side 35, a toe 36 Vand a slot 31 for the reception of one'end of a spring 38. The other ends of the springs 38 engage the bottom wall of the supporting member 'and thus the retainer 32 is urged in a counterclockwise direction and the retainer 33 is a clockwise direction. y The retainers are also provided with ears 39, the purpose of which Will vhereinafter be apparent. Fingers 40 are mounted on or formed asY part of thesupporting member and these fingers in conjunction with the toes 36. function either to retain the arming wires 4| and 42 or permit them to drop With the bomb.

The electrical means of operation will now be described. When it is desired to drop the bombs safe or unarmed neither solenoid 24 or 25v is energized, the release mechanism is operated and the arming Wires 41| and 42- move the retainers against the light spring 38 and the arming wires drop with the Ibomb as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 illustrates the position of thev parts when it is desired to drop the bomb with the tail fuse armed. The'solenoid 24 has been energized and its pin 3projected in whichposition it ene gages the ear or `shoulder '39 of the `retainer32 and prevents clockwise movement of the retainer 32. The armingwire 4| is'retained by the toe 35 and linger 4|) and the bomb dropswith the tail fuse armed. vThe retainer 33- is free tobe moved by the arming wire 42l which dropsi with thebomb andthe headfuseis unarmed.y 'Fig.\4 illustrates thev position of the parts when it is desired to drop the bomb withvthe head fuse armed. It AwillA be noted thesolenoid 25 has' been energized and its pin 30- projected thus "preventing movementofthe retainer- 33 and holding the arming wire 42 inthe shackle as described in connection with Fig. 3. At times it might be desired to drop the bomb With both head and tail fuses armed and it is thought to be apparent this could readily be accomplished by energizing both solenoids.

If for any reason the electrically operated means should'fail it is important to provide manually operated means for controlling the arming unit and this means will" now be'4 described. y

' jAA tube 50 is mounted in the supporting member between the solenoids 24l and 25 and extends downwardly between the retainers 3| and 32; 'jhe tube isv providedv with slots 5| and 5 2 into which both retainers mayv enter as shown, in Fig. 5 when it is desired to drop the bomb safe or unarmed.

"To prevent rotationofthe tube 50 and to act as aguide a pin 53 passes through the tube, and its ends are slidably'mounted in slots 54 inh the sides 26,of'the supporting` member. Means are provided for longitudinally moving the tube 5U slot 52. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the parts when dropping the bomb with the tail fuse Fig. 5 and the flat 35 on the retainer 32 engages the solid part of the tube thus preventing the toe 36 from moving away from the finger 4U and holding the arming wire 4| in the shackle. The slotV 52 being longer than the slot 50 the retainer 33 is free to move and the arming wire 42 drops with the bomb.

Fig. 7 shows the arrangement of the parts with the bomb being dropped with both the head and tail fuses armed. 'I'heftube 5|) has been raised a sucient amount so that its solid part prevents movement of both retainers and both arming wires 4| and 42 are held in the shackle when the bomb is dropped. With the manual control as now arranged the bomb cannot be dropped with only the head fuse armed but this isv of no great moment because when the bomb is dropped with both fuses armed if for any reason the head fuse did not function on impact the time fuse in the. tail then would func.- tion.

Throughout the specification and claims the device is spoken of as a shackle. It is thought to be obvious the arming unit is just as applicable to a bomb rack or any device for releasing bombs. l

A switch 60 isalsocarried by the supporting member. A contact finger 6| is engaged by the hook l2 to operate the switch. The switch might function to close a circuit to an adjoining bomb shackle orto give a signal in the bombardiers station. Y

Changes in details of construction andarrangements of parts suchas-would occur to one skilled in the artare to be considered as coming within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: l

1 In combination withmeans for dropping a bomb having two arm-ing wires, anarming unit, a supporting structure for said arming unit, larmh ing wire retainer members pivotedin said supporting structure, a pair ofsolenoids mounted in said supporting structure, means actua-ted by the plungers of said solenoids for engaging and locking the retainer members in arming wire holding position when the plungers are extended, resilient means for normally maintaining the plungers in their retracted position, means for urging the retainer members to theiry wire holding position, the energizing of said solenoids causing the'plungers to be extended tolock thev retainer members in wire holding position and drop the bomb armed, and when said solenoids are not energized the arming wires will move the4 retainer members and thev bomb may drop` safe or unarmed, and manually controlled Ameans slidably mounted for longitudinal-movement between said 'solenoidsv and said retainer members.- and having oppositely disposed surfaces to blockmovement of said retainer members and oppositely disposed relieved portions to allow movement of said retainer members, one of said relieved portions being longer than the other for engagement with said retainer members whereby one or both of said retainer members may cause the arming wires of said bomb to be retained by said arming unit.

2. In combination with` means for dropping a bomb having two arming wires, an arming unit, a supporting structure for said arming unit, arming wire retainer members pivoted in said supporting structure, a pair of solenoids mounted in said supporting structure, means actuated by the plungers of said solenoids for locking the retainer members in arming wire holding position when the plungers are extended, resilient means for normally maintaining the plungers in their retracted position, means for urging the retainer members to their wire holding position, the energizing of said solenoids causing the plungers to be extended to lock the retainer members in wire holding position and drop the bomb armed, and when said solenoids are not energized the arming wires will move the retainer members and the bomb may drop safe or unarmed, a longitudinally movable member positioned between said retainer members, slots in said longitudinally movable member, and means for manually moving said longitudinally movable member, said slots in the normal position of said longitudinally movable member permitting both of said retainer members to enter therein to permit free movement of said retainer members, the movement of said longitudinally movable member to one position causing one of said retainer members to hold one of said arming wires in said arming unit, and the movement of said longitudinally movable member to another position causing both of said retainer members to hold both of said arming wires in said arming unit.

3. In combination with means for dropping a bomb having two arming wires, an arming unit, a supporting structure for said arming unit, a pair of arming wire retainer members pivoted in said supporting structure, a pair of solenoids, one for each of said arming wire retainer members, pins actuated by the cores of said solenoids to engage the retainer members and lock them in arming wire holding position when the solenoids are energized and the pins are projected, spring means for normally maintaining the solenoid cores and their pins in the retracted position, and spring means for urging the retainer members to their wire holding positions, the energizing of said solenoids causing' the pins to be projected in the path of the retainer members to lock the retainer members in arming Wire holding position and drop the bomb armed, and

when said solenoids are not energized the arming wires may move the retainer members and the bomb may drop safe or unarmed.

4. In combination with means for dropping a bomb having two arming wires, a frame, two oppositely disposed retainer members pivoted on said frame, said members having outwardly e2:- tending wire retaining hooks and iiattened surfaces located at substantially right angles to said hooks, a slidably mounted member located vbetween said retainer members, said slidably mounted member having straight parallel surfaces located closely adjacent said at surfaces on said retainer members, and being formed with two oppositely disposed slots located in the plane of the retainer members and arranged in overlapping relationship in the direction of the movement of the member, the slots being of a size to receive a portion of the retainer members and to permit the retainer members to pivot to release positions when brought opposite thereto, and resilient means for urging said retainer members toward their wire holding positions.

5. In combination with means for dropping a bomb having two arming Wires, a supporting frame, two retainer members pivoted in said frame, said members having outwardly extending wire retaining hooks and ears formed thereon, a pair of solenoids mounted in said supporting frame above said retainer members, pins actuated by the cores of said solenoids for engaging said ears on said retainer members to lock them in arming Wire holding position when the solenoids are energized and the pins are projected, spring means for normally retaining the solenoid cores and their pins in the retracted position, and spring means for urging the retainer members to their wire holding positions.

6. In combination with means for dropping a bomb, an arming unit having two retainer members for two arming wires, said retainer members being mounted for movement toward each other to release the arming wires and constructed with means actuated by the arming wires to eiFect such movement, a longitudinally movable member positioned between said retainer members, said longitudinally movable member having oppositely disposed surfaces to block movement of said retainer members, and oppositely disposed relieved portions to allow movement of said retainer members, one of said relieved portions being longer than the other whereby one or both of said retainer members may cause the arming Wires to be retained by said arming unit,

ROSCOE I. MARKEY. DAVID HERMAN. ROBERT SCHAEFER. 

